Now that signs are becoming more elaborate ( I loved the electronic WHAT sign at the Royal Rumble) I was wondering when the practice of holding up signs in the audience of a wrestling show started. Was there any particular event that gave birth to this trend or did it just sort of happen? Is it unique to sports entertainment? Any info would be appreciated and read with great interest.

I think it's something that's just always been around. They have grown in quantity and creativity in the last four years or so, though. I remember going to WWF events back in the 80s and there was lots of them.

I don't think it was the first, but probably the most famous crowd sign was the guy that first did the John 3:16 sign. And we all know what *that* eventually led to.

I recall seeing them during the eighties too, in various promotions. They even had a few on the old NWA TV programs during the mid-eighties, and I remember Jim Ross encouraging fans to bring signs to Mid-south house shows around the same time.

However, the television shows definitely didn't focus on the signs [or on the fans at all] nearly as much as they do now.